File:RichardHill OfKerswellPriory BroadhemburyChurch Devon Died1737.PNG

English: Mural monument in Broadhembury Church, Devon, of Richard Hill (1655-1737) of Kerswell Priory in the parish of Broadhembury. Inscribed as follows:

"Here lies the body of Richard Hill of Priory Esq. (second son of Edward Hill of Priory the ninth son of Thomas Hill of Hills Court in Shropshire Esq.) whose many imenent virtues justly entitled him to the most lasting remembrance. This age affording few such examples for Piety, Temperance, Humility, Justice, Humanity, Genoristy & Charity. He was a tender and diligent husband and Parent, a Sincere Friend and Kind Master. He married Mary the only daughter of John Seaward of Clist St George in this County, elder brother of Sr Edward Seaward of Exon Kt a Member of Parliament for that City, by whom he had one son Edward who died 17th July (sic, year omitted) unmarried and four daughters. Mary who erected this monument to his memory, Grace the wife of Humphrey Sydenham of Combe in the Parish of Dulverton Esq. Hannah the wife of Richard Nutcombe of Nutcombe in the Parish of Clehanger Esq. and Katherine who died an infant. He died 19th November 1737 Aged 82 Years"

"Hill's Court" is the present "Court of Hill" in the parish of Nash, South Shropshire. Above within the gap of the broken pediment is a castle, an element of the arms of Hill of Hill's Court, Shropshire: Ermine, on a fesse sable a castle triple towered argent. These arms are visible on the monument in Dulverton Church, Somerset, to Humphrey V Sydenham (1694-1757), "The Learned", of Combe, Dulverton, MP for Exeter 1741-1754.

Other related inscriptions in the same church as as follows:

"Here lieth ye Body of Mrs Mary Seward of Clist St George, widow, late of Priory, who dyed the 15 of March 1724; also of Catherine Hill an infant her granddaughter. Here lyeth ye body of Edward Hill son of Richard Hill of Priory Esq who died ye 15 day of July 1730 in ye 30th year of his age. Here lyeth ye body of Richard Hill Esqr. who died ye 19th day of November 1737 in ye 83rd year of his age. Here lies ye body of Mary Hill, relict of Richard Hill Esqr who died May ye 15th 1743 age 66"

"In memory of Ellery, wife of St Barb Sydenham Esq of Combe in the County of Somerset, eldest daughter of Sydenham Williams Esqr of Herringstone in the County ofDorset, who died March 26th 1794 aged 67."

(Source: Dunford, Christine, Broadhembury: A Picture of our Parish, p.116[1]) She writes further:

"Kerwell Priory - In 1692 passed to the Hill family who are well documented in their memorial tablet in the church. Edward Hill, 9th son of Thomas Hill of Hill's Court Shropshire, presumably lived at Priory since he left it to his wife Catherine for life. It was part of the marriage settlement of Richard Hill of the City of London, merchant and Mary Seward of Clyst St George. Mary died in 1742, a widow, leaving £10 to Broadhembury Poor and a guinee was to all hte servants in the house where she died. Her unmarried daughter Mary left Butchers Meadow, Dulford, to Broadhembury Poor for Bread Dole on November 1st and February 2nd each year. Mary left the rest of the estate to her sister Grace, widow of Humphrey Sydenham, with a bequest to their son St Barbe."